Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, TX –
“As natural disasters or man-made disasters become more
complex and resources get constrained we need to come together as a
collaborative group effort to provide the support necessary,” said Army Col.
Jonathan Simmons, Alabama EPLO. “We need to be able to provide the best
assistance to American citizens.”
U.S. Army North’s Task Force 51 also deployed to North
Carolina and trained on the same scenario less than a mile away from the DCO/E
exercise.
While the DCO/E Region IV personnel focused on being DoD’s
“eyes and ears” in a multi-agency, civilian-led emergency operations center,
Task Force 51 trained on serving as the forward command post for the Joint
Forces Land Component Command. Similar to the DCO/E’s CERTEX, coordination with
civilian officials was a critical component of TF-51’s exercise.
“This type of exercise allows us to build solid
relationships with local, state and federal agencies and to better coordinate
efforts,” said Maj. David Briten, a TF-51 liaison and future operations
planner. “It’s an opportunity to help Americans in the homeland.”
Staff Sgt. Michael Cucalon, an intelligence sergeant with
Army North agreed, saying it is important to learn the different processes in
training where the human lives in danger are only simulated.
“Each state does things differently, but we all have the
same goal and that is to save lives,” Cucalon said. “I am proud to have this
mission because I get to serve and help those in need, which could one day
include my own friends and family”
Bringing the collective team together helped ensure
everybody is on the same page “to practice standard operating procedures and
other tactics and techniques,” Thompson said. “This CERTEX allows the team to
learn innovative ways to conduct DSCA, which can be a much nuanced mission.”
DCO/E Region IV certification will last the duration of
Thompson’s tenure. When he moves on, the new defense coordinating officer will
have to recertify the DCO/E for Region IV.